Sole-pressing machine



Nov. 7, 1939.

L. F.ExLEY SOLE-PRSSING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l l 'fwn O 163" 4 761 Z55 153 l 78! I n 173 l l n I a A a5: T131 y 79 y l 17 f 155 M I 77 223253 2'5'7 f7 75 7Jk 259 75 142.9 9

l 2413 145 I', 137145 J @a o 217': l 100 y 51 y i 163 y i 18g ,I :E15- 55 ,58 6 71,

@3mi MJ 24 .57 53 f5 'T i *Vgl 2 203 711 .2: [#153129 l T: Z 235 261115 Qz-Yl. n* 'o v i 2Q asi :v I o L31 a?? 2 L. F. EXLEY SOLE-PREssING MACHNE Nov. 7, 1939. 2,178,990

Filed May 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 7, 1939. L F XLEY 2,178,990

SOLE-PRESSING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WVM/m@ if f 9 Patented Nov. 7, 1939 unirse entras Param ornent Leo F. Exley, `iohnson City,

N. Y., assigner to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough ot Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey i Application May 2s, 1936, serial No. 82,290

36 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of footwear and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for laying or pressing soles upon the bottoms oi lasted shoes.

movement of approach between the jack and the presser to cause the sole to be pressed iirmly into place. In order to facilitate this operation there is provided in accordance with one feature of the invention a carrier provided with a plurality of jacks for supporting lasted including a distensible diaphr shoes, a presser agm, means for moving the carrier intermittently to bring jacks successively to rest in operativ e vrelation to the presser, and'means for producing relative movement of approach between the presser and a jack thus brought to rest and for distending the diaphragm. In the illustrated ma chine the carrier takes the form of. a turret rotatable intermittently in a horizontal plane and having mounted thereon a plurality of jacks each comprising a toe-rest, a last pin and means for gripping the rear portion of the shoe, the turret being rotated intermittently to bring the lasted shoes to rest successively beneath a presser,

said presser con-` sisting oi a pressure box one Wall of Which is a flexible diaphragm. The pressure box is moved down to force the diaphragm and then the diaphragm and to cause it into place, after which fluid escape from the box and the against the sole,

fluid is forced into the box to distend to press the sole is permitted to box is raised to initial position ready to operate in the same manner on the next shoe. signed particularly to press canized sole upon a shoe prior A loading operator places shoes,

upon its bottom, succesas they reach the loading sole properly located sively upon the jacks The machine is deor lay an unvulto vulcanization. each with a station; and, after the shoes have been operated upon, they are removed successively preferably at another or other stations. this type in which a With a machine of carrier, such as a turret,

brings a work support into operative relation to a member which operates upon the Work, it

is desirable that the should be stopped if at any tim fails to be placed upon movement of the carrier e a piece of Work the work support. Io

this end, according to another feature of. the

invention, there is provided a c moving the carrier, a

the carrier, and means associat arrier, means for work support mounted on ed with the work supportwhen empty for stopping the carrier when the work support reaches a certain position. In the illustrated machine, in which a plurality of Work supports are mounted kona rotating carrier, each work support has associated f5, with it a member which normally. projects into ak position to o-pen a switch and thereby cut off the current to the motor which drives the turret. This switch is located near the loading station in such position that, if the loading operator fails to l0 place a shoe on a work support, the switchwill be opened and the turret stopped. As soon as a shoe is placed on the jack, the switch` is closed and the motor starts again.

It is desirable that the loading operator should 1 5 not be obliged to exercise any great care in placing the shoes on the'jacks as they arrive successively at his station. It is, however, very desirable that each shoe be held accurately in a predetermined position on the jack during sole-pressing operation. According to another feature of the. invention, each jack comprises a pair of grippers which are normally open and between which a shoe may be placed somewhat carelessly so that the shoe may askeW on the jack. As the jack approaches the sole-laying station, however, the grippers are closed to straighten the shoe and hold it firmly.

In machines of the general type kof the one shown, it is desirable that the operating member should not go through its operating vmovements if for any reason a work support which 1s empty is brought to rest in position to be operated upon. According to another feature of the invention, a construction is provided for accomv` plishing this result. In the illustrated machine, the same members, each associated with a jack which acts when a jack is empty to cutoff the current from the motor which drives the turret, are adapted, when an empty jack approaches the operating station, to operate a valve to cut off the supply of air to the pressure box operating mechanism so that, when the empty jack comes to rest beneath the pressure box, the pressure box will remain in raised position, and no distention of. the diaphragm will take place.

rIhese and other features of the invention including certain details of construction and coml binations of parts will be described as embodied 5o in an illustrated machine and pointed out in the appended claims. y l

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

the 20 be somewhat 25 Fig. 1 is a iront view partly in section and 55,

partly in elevation of a machine in which the present invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a detail principally in elevation showing the main air supply pipe and exhaust;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line III- III of Fig. l showing the mechanism for controlling the flow of air to and from the cylinder to lower and raise the pressure box;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1 showing the mechanism for controlling the flow of air into and out of the pressure box;

Fig. 5 is a view looking up upon the bottom of the pressure box;

Fig. 6 is a plan of a portion ofl the turret, the jacks and the automatic mechanism for bringing the turret to rest, certain parts having been omitted and certain others shown in section;

Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective showing more particularly a part of a jack; and

Fig. 8 is a detail principally in elevation showing the switch which is opened when the operator fails to place a shoe on a jack at the loading station.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the machine, a general description of its mode of operation will be given. The purpose of the machine, as has been explained, is to lay or press soles of unvulcanized rubber upon the bottoms of lasted shoes. The machine comprises an intermittently rotated turret l5 on which are located six equally spaced jacks or shoe supports indicated as a whole at A in Fig. 6 on which, as they arrive one by one at a loading station B, an operator places lasted shoes bottom side up, each with an unvulcanized rubber sole properly located on its bottom. The lasted shoes, together with the soles, may be taken by the loading operator from a bench C, the soles located on the bottoms of the shoes and the shoes placed on the jacks in the manner described above. The intermittent movements of the turret are each one-sixth of a revolution; and between each intermittent movement there is a pause of sufcient length to permit the sole 280 of a shoe lll!! (Fig. l) to be pressed into place. This pressing is done by a pressure box Il the lower operative wall of which comprises a rubber diaphragm. When a lasted shoe is moved into position beneath the pressure box and brought to rest, the pressure box is moved down so that the bottom of the shoe is pushed into the diaphragm, and compressed air is forced into the pressure box to distend the diaphragm and wrap it about the lower part of the shoe. After the pressing of the sole has been completed, air is exhausted from the pressure box, the pressure box rises, and the turret makes another intermittent movement.

An operator, or operators, at a station, or stations, on the other side of the machine from the loading station B, remove the shoes preparatory to the performance of the next operation upon them.

The hub of the turret l5 (Fig. l) is supported on a suitable bearing member on an overhanging bracket I9 carried by the frame of the machine and is fast to an upright shaft 20 to which is also fast a large mutilated gear 2l, the mutilations being shown at 23, said gear being located in the spacev between the upper and lower parts of the bracket i9. A driving pinion 2t, which meshes with the large gear 2l and has a smooth portion 26 to cooperate with the mutilated portions of the gear 2l, is fast to a short vertical shaft 25 mounted in bearings in ythe bracket and having at its lower end a bevel gear 21, said last-named gear meshing with a bevel gear 29 on one end of a horizontal countershaft 3| near the other end of which is fastened a sprocket around which and around a sprocket on a short horizontal shaft 33 passes a chain 35. A worm gear 3l on the shaft 33 meshes with a worm 39 on the shaft of a motor 42. Thus, when the motor is running, the turret I5 is rotated intermittently in the manner which has been described above.

The six jacks or shoe supports A carried by the turret are all alike. Referring to Fig. 6 each jack comprises a toe-rest 43 for engaging the toe portion of a shoe in the manner indicated in Fig. l, and two grippers each comprising a rubber block 135 for engaging the sides of the shoe near the top thereof. Each toe-rest (Fig. l) comprises a rubber core 49 mounted upon a base 5l and a piece of leather extending over the core and having its ends fastened to the base. The base is mounted on the upper end of a stem 53 threaded into a slide 55 which is slidable on two spaced inclined guides 57 carried by a block 59 which is fast to the turret. Pivoted at 6| to a lug on the upper end of the slide 55is the lower forked end of a link 63, the upper forked end of which is pivoted at 65 to a sleeve 6l' through which is threaded a vertical adjusting screw 69. The lower end of the screw 69 is rotatable in a socket in a sleeve *Il which, together with the turret, is fastened to the shaft 2l] is shown at 1G; and the upper end of the screw 69 is rotatably mounted in a bearing member 73 supported by three curved bars 15 fast at their upper ends to the bearing member 13 and at their lower ends to the turret. A hand wheel TI fast to the screw 69 is provided with a handle 79. By grasping the handle 'i9 and turning the screw 69 the toe-rests may be adjusted simultaneously in their inclined paths to provide for shoes o1 different sizes and styles.

The grippers are normally held swung apart into open position to permit the rear end of the top of a lasted shoe to be placed between them with a last pin (to be described later) in the lastpin hole of the last and the toe portion of the shoe resting upon a toe-rest A. By the time the reaches a position beneath the pressure box, the grippers have been swung toward each other to straighten the shoe and to hold it rmly in place as indicated in Fig. 1. The grippers are in 3 pairs, each one of each pair comprising a block of rubber t5 (Fig. '7), each block being fast to a bar 83 which has integral with it two curved arms 85 the hubs of which are rotatably mounted on a rod 8l carried by two spaced on a base 89 which is fastened to the turret I5. Extending inwardly toward the axis of the turret from each bar is a generally conical bracket Sl having a threaded hole into which is threaded a shouldered screw 93, the portion of the screw between its head and the beginning of the threads being smooth and cylindrical to extend loosely through a bore in the upper end of the sleeve member 95 of an extension link, the other member of which is a rod 97 which is slidable through a bore in a cap 99 threaded on the sleeve member 95. The rod carries a collar IDI, and between the collar and the bottom of the cap $9 is a compression spring ID3. The rod 91 is pivoted at its lower end at E05 in a slot in the hub of a T-shaped actuating member lll'l the cylindrical stem of which is vertically slidable in a bore in the turret. A torsion spring |08 having one end hooked over one of the arms 85 and the other extended over the top of the base by screws one of which ears formed tween them. Just before the turret comes to rest with the shoe beneath the pressure box in the position indicated in Fig. 1, the T-shaped member i lc is pulled down to cause the grippers to straighten the shoe and grip it rmly, the extension links being extended somewhat-according to the size of the last. To accomplish this pulling down of theT-shaped member H11, its stem (Fig.

1) vcarries nearits lower end two small rolls `|119 which enga-ge and are pulled down by two stationary spaced cams carried by angle irons H3 which are bolted to the frame.

' Returning to Fig. 6, when ther shoe is placed bottom-side up with the upper portion of its forepart resting on the toe-rest |13 and its top near the rear end extending down between the open grippers, the last-pin hole is caused to receive a last pin. This last pin, for a purpose presently to be described,yconsists of two parts (Fig. 7), a part H integral with the base 85 and a part ||1 integral Vwith a block l!!! slidably mounted in a guideway in the base 83 and normally held in the position shown by a compression spring |2|. Extending into a recess in the side of the block`||9 is one end of a lever |23 pivoted at |25, the other end of said lever being located in a recess in a plunger |21 slidable in a guide |23 which is fast to the turret, said plunger carrying at its outer end an actuating member in the form of a roll |29 which projects beyond the periphery of the turret l5 when no shoe is on the jack. This roll, when in the projecting position shown, operates one or the other of two safety devices later to be described. As soon as a lasted shoe is placed witn'tne spin last pin sie, Mi in the iastpin hole, the vpart ||1 is moved toward the periphery of the turret, and the roll |23 is withdrawn into a position in which it no longer projects beyond the periphery of the turret. Ii it happens that a jack with no shoe upon it leaves the loading station, its roll |29 will be projecting as shown in Fig. 7 and will operate a safety device to stop the rotation of the turret, and if the device fails to operate the roll |29 will operate another safety device to prevent the pressure box from being operated. Ordinarily, with the turret rotating as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6, a jack as it approaches the loading station B is empty, and its'roll |29 is projecting beyond the periphery ofthe turret. As soon as a shoe is placed on the turretthe roll is with-drawn, and the jack proceeds to the operating station beneath the pressure box, the grippers having been caused to grip the top of the shoe. After the shoe passes beyond the operating station, one of the receiving operators on the other side of the machine from the loading station B` removes the shoe, whereupon the roll |29 again projects beyondthe periphery of theturret. It should be noted that the swinging grippers, when in their open position at the loading station, permit the Vloading operator to place a shoe quickly and somewhat carelessly on the jack since all he has to do is to see that the last pin of the jack enters the last-pin hole of the last and that the toe portion of the shoe engages the toe-rest. The shoe may be askew on the jack; but, as soon as the grippers close on the shoe, it is straightened on the jack and rmly gripped so that', when the pressure. box descends to lay or press the sole. the shoe is in proper position to receive the pressure.

The pressure box (Figs. 1, 5) has rigid Aside and top walls. The bottom wall is a rubber diaphragm |31 (herein shown as comprising two layers of rubber) fastened by its margin to the rim of the opening in the bottom of the boxby a metal gasket |35 and screws |33 which pass through the gasket and are threaded into the rim of the box. In order to prevent ballooning of the diaphragm about the sides of the shoe when the pressure box is brought down upon the shoe and the diaphragm is distended, guard plates having in them openingsof diiTerent sizes to accommodate different sizes of shoes are provided, said guard plates being readily removable and replaceable. In Fig. 5 there is shown one of these guard plates |31 with its opening |33; This plate is provided along one side and the two ends with a series of key-hole slots 111|, and along the other side with open-ended slots M13. Projecting down from the metal gasket |35 are headed studs M5.

In Fig. 5, which is a viewilooking up upon the underside of the pressure box, some of these studs are shown in cross-section. To remove the guard plate |31 it is necessary merely to slide it to the left and move it toward the observer and laway from the box. To replace the plate the movements just described are reversed. In order to ensure that the guard plate shall not be moved to the left accidentally, a fastening is provided inthe form of a small angle iron H11, the lower horizontal arm of which extends beneath the guard plate |31 and the upwardly extending arm of which is -fastened to one'wall of the pressure box by a screw |39. The screw is withdrawn and the angle iron removed whenever it is desired to remove and replace the plate.

The pressure box |1 (Fig. 1) isy carried at the lower end of a heavy rod |5| which is` vertically slidable in an overhanging arm ofthe frame, the

upper end of said rod being threaded to receive a I stop nut |53 the position of which determines the extent of downward movement ofthe pressure box; and the box is prevented from turning by a guide-rod |55 fast to the box and vertically slidable in the overhanging arm of the frame. Pivoted at |51 to the upper end of the screw threaded rod |51 is one end of a lever |59 supported near its middle by a link |151 pivoted at its upper end to the lever and at its lower end to a lug on the frame. The left-hand end of the lever is pivoted at |63 to the upper end of a piston rod |65 which carries at its lower end a piston |51, the packing |69 of which may be forced against the wall of the cylinder |1| in which the piston travels by screwing down a nut |13, which is threaded on the piston rod, vand thus, through'asleeve |15, pushing down a washer |11. A locknut 18| holds the adjusting nut |13 rmly in position. The cylinder |1| is pivoted at |53 to two spaced ears on a bracket carried by the frame, one of these ears being indicated at |84. Thepiston is operated by compressed air from a source of supply which enters (Fig. 2) through a main supply pipe |85, said pipe passing through a wall |81 of the frame of the machine and continuing to a T |89 (Fig. 1) inside the frame. Connected with that part of the pipe |85 (Fig. 2) which is outside the frame is a pressure gage ISI; and located in the same part of the pipe |85 are two hand valves and an automatically operated valve the casing of which is indicatedy at |93. This automatic valve is normally held open by a weight |95 carried by a valve-control member S37 (see also Fig. 6) pivoted at |99 to a stationary bracket. When the parts are in the position shown, the stem of the valve is being held down in its open position by the weight |95 against the action of a spring, not shown. Referring to Fig. 6, there is connected to the pipe |85 at a point beyond the valve casing |93 a short exhaust pipe 2F33 in which is another automatically operated valve the stem of which is indicated at 205. This valve is urged up at all times into the closed position by a spring, not shown, and normally occupies this position. The purpose of these automatic valves is to cut off the supply of compressed air by closing .the valve 20| and to exhaust various pipes, later to be described, by opening the valve 205 in the exhaust pipe 203 if atv any time an empty jack on the turret-that is a jack having no shoe upon ity-approaches a position beneath the pressure box. If there is no shoe on such a jack, its roll |29 will project beyond the periphery of the turret; and, as the turret moves along, the roll will ride upon the valve-control member |97 to rock it and thereby cause the valve in the supply pipe |85 to close and the valve in the exhaust pipe 2103 to open. As will later appear, the result will be that the pressure box i7 will not be moved down and no air will be forced into the box to distend the diaphragm.

Returning now to Fig. l the pipe |85 ends in the T |89. Here the current of air divides. From the lower part of the T leads a pipe 207 through which air passes, through valves presently to be described, into the interior of the pressure box, while from the upper end of the T a pipe 200 leads into the casing of a three-way valve 2| i. From the top of the casing 2| a pipe 2|3 leads toone end of a flexible tube 2|5, the other end of which is connected to a pipe 2|7 which leads into the lower end of the cylinder |7|. Directly behind the pipe 2|3, as viewed in Fig. l, another pipe 2| 9 (Fig. 3) leads from the three-way valve casing 2|| into the lower end of a ilexible tube 22| (Fig. l) the upper end of which is connected with a pipe223 which leads into the upper part of the cylinder |7|. In the position of parts shown a shoe |00, with a sole properly located thereon, has come to rest beneath the pressure box and air has just begun to flow into the lower end of the cylinder. Air is iowing through the pipe 209, the three-way valve in the casing 2H and the flexible tube 2|5 into the lower end of the cylinder; and the air abovey the cylinder is flowing out through the -exible tube 22|, through th-e three-way valve casing 2|| and through the exhaust opening 225 (Fig. 3) in the bottom of the valve casing. The three-way valve may be of any well-known construction, and consequently no detailed description of it will be given. Referring to Fig. 3, the stem of the oscillating member of this valve is indicated at 227, said stem being clamped in the forked end of an arm 229, said arni being pivoted to the upper end of a link 23| the lower end of which is pivoted to the outer end of a lever 233 pivoted at its inner end at 235 to a bracket on the frame and carrying a roll 237 which runs in a suitably-shaped cam track 239 formed in a cam 25| adjustably fastened vto the countershaft 3|. The valve, as

shown, occupies its` extreme clockwise position in which the pipe 209 is connectedfto the pipe 2|3 to force air into the lower end of the cylinder I1 and the pipe 2|9 is connected to the exhaust opening 225 to permit air from above the piston |57 in the cylinder |7| to flow out through this opening. 'Ihe valve will be held in this position for an interval. The piston will therefore move up, and the pressure box I7 will move down to cause the lower portion of the shoe |00 with its sole 200 to be pushed somewhat through the opening |39 (Fig. 5) in the guard plate. Air is forced into the pressure boX and later allowed to escape therefrom in a manner presently to be described. The pressure box is then raised. This raising is accomplished (Pig. 3) by the swinging of the lever 233 to its down position. At this time the pipe 2|9 is connected with the air supply pipe 209 to force air into the top of the cylinder |7|, and the pipe 2|3 (Fig. 3) is connected to the exhaust opening 225 to permit air from below the piston to flow out of the cylinder. The shape of the cam track 239 and its relation to the countershaft 3| and the lever 233 are such that when a shoe on a jack is brought beneath the pressure box, the box is brought down t'o force the diaphragm against the sole 200 of the shoe and is held in that position for an interval, after which it rises again preparatory to being brought down upon another shoe.

While the diaphragm is in .contact with the bottom of the shoe, air under pressure is forced into the pressure box to distend the diaphragm and wrap it about the lower portion of the shoe, and is then allowed to escape. Returning now to Fig. l, it has been explained that the pipe |85, which leads from the source of supply of compressed air, ends at the T |89 and that from the bottom of this T leads a pipe 207 through which air ows to the p-ressure box |7. The pipe 207 leads into a valve casing 247 having in it an automatically controlled valve. The pipe 207, beyond the valve casing 247, leads into an upwardly extending pipe 288 (Fig. l) which in turn leads up into a pressure control valve 253. From one side of this pressure control valve a pipe having in it a hand valve 255 is connected to one end of a flexible tube 257 the other end of which communicates with the interior of the pressure box. Extending from the left-hand side of the pressure control valve 253 is an exhaust pipehaving a hand valve 258 which is normally kept closed but provides convenient means whereby the pressure in the pressure box may be readily relieved at any time if desired. Leading from the interior of the pressure box |7 is a flexible tube 259 connected to the upper end of an exhaust pipe 26|.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown a portio-n of the pipe 207 which conducts air through the valve easing 247 into the pressure box, the lower portion of the pipe 26| through Which air is exhausted from the pressure box, and two valves which are automatically operated to control the inlet and outlet of air to and from the pressure box. In the valve casing 247 is a valve the stem of which is indicated at 263, said valve being normally held down in its closed position by a spring, not shown, and being raised at the proper tim-e to open it by a pusher 265 pivoted at 207 to a rigid bracket 289 and carrying a roll 27| adapted to be engaged at intervals by a cam 273 fast to the countershaft 3| which acts to raise the roll 27| and thereby to open the valve and keep lit open for an interval. This allows jack, the rotation of the 'is made of the rolls 12S (Fig.

box. in order to relieve the pressure in the pressure box, the exhaust pipe Ztl leads into a valve casing N containing a valve normally held to the right in closed position by a spring, not

shown, the projecting stem 2li of thisv valve being engaged and pushed to the left at the proper times by a lever 279 pivoted at iii to` a rigid bracket 283 and carrying a roll 285 adapted to be engaged by a cam Ztl adjustably mounted on the countershait 3|, said cam acting to swing the lever 21s to the left to put the exhaust pipe 269 into communication with the exhaust opening 289 in the'valve-casing. This cam holds the valve 2li in open position for an interval to exhaust the air from the pressure box and then permits the valve to close. It will be noted that the air supply cam i'itis adjustably 'fastened to a ange 2M on a hub 293, which is adjustably fastened to the countershaft 3i by set screws, by screws 292 (Fig. 1) which pass through holes in the cam and may be threaded into selected threaded holes 285i in the iiange; and that the air exhaust cam 231 is similarly fastened to a flange on a hub 29'? (Fig. l) by screws ESQ, said hub being adjustably fastened to the countershaft 3l by set'screws Sdi. It is thus possible to vary the time at whichthe distention of the diaphragm Vbegins and the time when the exhaust pipe is opened. Preferably, for pressing a sole on a tennis shoe, the distention will begin just as the descending pressure box causes the diaphragm to contact with the sole on the shoe, will reach its maximum (determined by the setting of the pressure control valve 253) at about the time the pressure box reaches its lowes-t position and will be maintained at a maximum for a short interval, after which the air supply to the pressure box will be cut oif, the exhaust pipe opened, and the pressure box raised. It will be understood, however, that these details may be varied somewhat according to the type of shoe being operated upon.

It has been stated above that ii the operator at the loading station B fails to placey a shoe on a turret willbe stopped. This is' accomplished by automatically cutting off electric current to the motor; and, to this end, use 6) which, as has been explained, project beyond the periphery of the turret when there are no shoes on the jacks. A jackl which is approaching the loading station is normally empty, and its roll is projecting beyond lthe periphery of the turret. At the loading station a shoe is normally placed on the jack, and the roll is' thereby withdrawn. 'if no shoe is placed on the jack, the projecting roll -l 2Q will shortly encounter the rounded upper edge of a control member in the form oi a lever @il (Figs. 6 and 3) which is pivoted at333 to a bracket said bracket being carried by the bench C. The lever Se i carries at its lower end a contact member Still; and a tension spring '339 normally holds the contact member 337 against a contact member 213i. The switch, briefly described above, through a remote control magnetic switch, not shown, of any suitable and well-known type, controls the iiow of current to the motor (i2, the switch herein shown being in the push-button circuit. When this switch (Fig. 8) is opened, the current is cut ofi from the motor and the turret comes to rest andl remains at rest until a shoe is placed-on the jack, whereupon the roll E29 is withdrawn, the switch is closed and the motor begins its rotation once more. in the position oi parts shown in Fig. G, the motor is running, the turret is at rest during one of its intermittent pauses, there is a shoe on the jack at'the station beneath the pressure box, and the pressure box has begun to descend. lf now the loading operator fails to put a shoe on the jack at the loading station, the machine will function as usual until the roll l2ii of the jack at the loading station swings the lever siii and opens the switch as shown in Fig. 8, whereupon the current to the motor will be cut off, the switch being so located that, when the turret cornes to rest, the pressure box will be in raised position and the valves which admit air to the cylinder l'ii and to the pressure box will be closed. The loading operator may now reach over the bench and place a shoe on the jack which has just passed that station whereupon the machine will once more function as usual. In case the automatic mechanism, which has been described above, 'fails to' operate, the roll its of the jack will ride up on the valve-co-ntrol member 59'! and shut off the lsupply of compressed air so that the pressure box will not be moved down toward the empty jack, and the diaphragm will l not be distended.

The shoe supporting structure which comprises a plurality of jacks the toe rests of which are simultaneously adjustable is no-t claimed herein but forms the subject-matter of a divisional apv plication Serial No. 198,397, led March 28, i938;

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: v f

l. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a turret,;a plurality of jacks carried thereby and adapted to support lasted shoes, a .pressure box one wall of which comprises a exible diaphragm, means for moving the turret intermittently to bring Yjacks to rest" successively .in operative relation tothe pressure box,l and means for producing relative movement ofl approach between the pressure box and a jack thus brought-to-rest and fordistending the diaphragm.

2. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having,

in combination, a turret, a plurality of jacks carried thereby andk adapted to SuDDOTt lasted shoes, a pressure box one ,wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, means formoving the turret `intermittently to bring jacks to' rest'successively in operative relation to the pressure box, and'uid operated meansboth for producing relative movement of approach between the pressure box and a jack thus brought to rest and ior distending the diaphragm.

3. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a turret, a plurality of jacks carried thereby and adapted tosupport lasted shoes, a pressure box one wall ci which comprises a flexible diaphragm, means for moving the turret intermittently to bring jacks to rest successively in operativerelaticn tothe pressure box, means including a cylinder and a piston for moving the pressure box toward a jack thus brought to@ rest,

and means for forcing a fluid into the cylinder to move the pressure box and into the pressure box to distend the diaphragm. f y

ll. A machirieior" pressing unvulcanized soles on shoes having, in combination,.a turret rotatable about a vertical axis and -havingva substantially horizontal upper face, a plurality of jacks mounted on said face, a pressure box'for a iuid the bottom Wall of whichcomprises a flexible diaphragm,

means for moving the turret intermittently to bring jacks to rest successively beneath the pressure box, means for moving the pressure box toward a jack thus brought to rest to cause the lower part of the shoe to push a portion of the diaphragm into the pressure box, and an apertured plate overlying the diaphragm to restrict flexing of the diaphragm to a narrow area about the sides of the shoe.

5. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a turret rotatable about a vertical axis and having a substantially horizontal upper face, a plurality of jacks mounted on said face, a pressure box the bottom Wall of which comprises a ilexible diaphragm, means for moving the turret intermittently to bring jacks to rest successively beneath the pressure box, and means for moving the pressure box toward a jack thus brought to rest and for distending the diaphragm.

6. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a traveling Work support, mechanism for operating upon the supported work, an actuating member movable with respect to the Work support, said actuating member being held, when no work is on the work support, in operative position in which it acts during the travel of the work support to prevent the operation of the operating mechanism, and means responsive to placing a piece of work on the work support for moving said actuating member into and holding it in inoperative position.

7. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a traveling work support, mechanism for operating upon the work, a memb-er normally occupying an operative position in which, during the travel ofthe Work support, it prevents the operating mechanism from operating upon the work, and means for moving said member into and holding it in inoperative position.

8. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a carrier, a plurality of jacks carried thereby, a pressing member, means for moving the carrier intermittently to bring the jacks to rest successively in operative relation to the pressing member, mechanism for producing relative movement of approach between the pressing member and a jack thus brought to rest, and means for preventing the operation of said mechanism when no shoe is on the jack.

9. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a carrier, a plurality of jacks carried thereby, a pressing member, means for moving the carrier intermittently to bring the jacks to rest successively in operative relation to the pressing member, mechanism for producing relative movement of approach between the pressing member and a jack thus brought to rest, and means becoming operative only when a shoe is carried by the jack for causing said mechanism to operate.

10. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a carrier, a plurality of jacks carried thereby, a pressing member, means for moving the carrier intermittently to bring the jacks to rest successively in operative relation to the pressing member, fluid-operated mechanism for producing relative movement of approach between the pressing member and a jack thus brought to rest, and automatically operated means for cutting off the supply of uid and thereby preventing the: operation of said mechanism when no shoe is on the jack.

11. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a traveling Work support,

mechanism for operating upon the supported work, a control member located adjacent to the path of travel of the work support movement of which prevents the operating mechanism from operating, a member movable with the work support and normally held in operative position such that during the movement of the work support toward the operating mechanism, said member will move the control member, and means responsive to the placing of a piece of Work on the work support for moving said member into and holding it in inoperative position.

12. A machine for operating upon lasted shoes having, in combination, an operating member, mechanism for causing said member to operate, a control member actuation of which prevents the operation of the operating member, a turret, means for rotating the turret, a plurality of jacks carried by the turret, an actuating member for the control member associated with each jack,v

each jack comprising a two-part last pin, means for causing relative movement of the parts when the two-part pin is caused to enter the last-pin hole of a last, and means operated by said relative movement for moving the actuating member f into and holding it in inoperative position.

13. A machine for operating upon lasted shoes having, in combination, a carrier, a plurality of jacks carried thereby, an operating member, means for moving the carrier to bring the jacks successively to rest in operative relation to the operating member, a control member normally held in position to cause the operating member to operate upon a shoe on a jack brought to rest, and an actuating member associated with each jack, said actuating member being urged at all times to project into a position in which movement of the carrier will cause it to move the control member to prevent operation of the operating member, and means responsive to placing a shoe on a jack for withdrawing said actuating member into inoperative position.

14. A machine for operating upon lasted shoes having, in combination, a turret, a plurality of jacks carried thereby, an operating member at,

sition to cause the operating member to operate 1 upon a shoe on a jack brought to rest, said control member when moved preventing the operating member from operating, and an actuating member associated with each jack, said actuating member being in operative position to move the g control member and thus prevent the operation of the operating member whenever a jack having no shoe upon it approaches the operating station.

15. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a carrier, a plurality of jacks f carried thereby, a pressure box one Wall of which comprises a ilexible diaphragm, means for moving the carrier intermittently to bring jacks to rest successively in operative relation to the pressure box, mechanism for producing relative movement of approach between the pressure box and a jack thus brought to rest, and means for preventing the operation of said mechanism when no shoe is on the jack.

16. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a carrier, a plurality of jacks carried thereby, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, means for moving the carrier intermittently to bring jacks to rest successively in operative relation to the pressure box, fluid-operated mechanism including a fluid-supply pipe for producing relative movement of approach between the pressure box and a jack thus brought to rest and for distending the diaphragm, and automatically operated means for closing the pipe and thereby preventing the operation of said mechanism when no shoe on the jack.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a work support, an operating member at an operating station, means for moving the support into operative relation to the operating member at the operating station, fluid controlled means for causing the operating member to operate, and means becoming operative when a work support is empty for cutting ofi the supply of uid and thereby preventing the operation of the operating member.

18. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a work support, an operating member at an operating station, means for moving the support into operative relation to the operating means at the operating station, fluid controlled means including a duid-supply pipe for causing the operating member to operate. a valve in said pipe normally held in open position., a valve control member movement of which closes the valve, and an actuating member associated with each work support, said member occupying a position to move the control member and close the valve whenever a work support having no work upon it approaches the operating station.

19. A machine for pressing soles on lasted shoes having, in combination, a carrier, a jack carried thereby, a pressure box one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, means for moving the carrier to bring the jack to rest in operative relation to the pressure box, means or distending the diaphragm, and automatically operated means operating when no shoe is on the jack tor preventing the operation of the diaphragm distending means.

20. A machine for pressing soles on lasted shoes having, in combination, a work support, a carrier therefor, means for moving said carrier in a predetermined path, means associated with the work support for causing the carrier to stop when the Work support reaches a predetermined position, and means responsive to the placing of a piece of work on the work support when the work support is in predetermined position for starting the movement of the carrier.

2l. A machine for pressing soles on lasted shoes having, in combination, a turret, a work support carried thereby, means for rotating the turret, means associated with the work support for stopping the rotation of the turret when a work sup-- port reaches a predetermined position, and means responsive to the placing of a piece of work on the Work support when the work support is in said predetermined position for starting the rotation of the turret.

22. A machine for pressing soles on lasted shoes having, in combination, a turret, a work support carried thereby, means for rotating said turret, a member associated with the work support and adapted during the rotation. of the turret to render the rotating means inoperative, and means responsive to the placing of a piece of work upon the work support for withdrawing said member from operative position and thus rendering the rotating means operative.

23. A machine for pressing soles on lasted shoes having, in combination, a carrier, a work support carried thereby, an operating member, means for moving the carrier to cause it to bring the work support to rest at the operating station, mechanism for causing the operating member to operate, and means responsive to movement with theY carrierof the work support when empty for r rendering inoperative the means for moving the carrier and the mechanism for causing the operating member to operate.

2li. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a carrier, a plurality of jacks carried thereby, a presser at a pressing station, means for moving the carrier intermittently to bring jacks successively to rest atthe pressing station,'mechanism. for causing relative movement of approach between the presser and the jack during pauses in the movement of the carrier, and means responsive to movement with the carrier of a jack havingl no shoe upon it for stopping `the carrier-moving means and the presser-actuating mechanism.

25. A machine for pressing soles on shoes having, in combination, a turret, a plurality of jacks carried thereby, a presser at a pressing station, means for rotating the 'turret intermittently to bring jacks to rest successively at the pressing station, mechanism for actuating the presser durpauses in the movement of the turret, and

means responsive to the movement with the turret of a jack having no shoe upon it for stopping the turret-rotating means and the presser-actuating mechanism.

2,6. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe having, in combination, a jack comprising normally open grippers between which the shoe may be placed, means for causing the jack to travel,

mechanism for operating upon the shoe, and

means responsive to travel of the jack toward the operating mechanism for causing the grippers to close on the shoe.. y

27. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe having, in combination, a jack comprising a toerest for engaging the forepart of the shoe and normally open grippers for receiving the rear part of the shoe, means for causing the jack to travel, mechanism for operating upon the shoe, and means operated by travel of the jack toward the operating mechanism for causing the grippers to close on the shoe.

28. A machine for operating upon lasted shoes having, in combination, a carrier, a jack carried thereby comprising a toe-rest for engaging the forepart of the shoe, and a pair of normally open grippers for engaging the sides of the shoe, mechanism for operating upon the shoe at an operating station, means for moving the carrier to bring the shoe to rest at said station, and means responsive to movement of the jack toward the operating station for causing the grippers to close upon the shoe.

29. A machine for operating upon lasted shoes having, in combination, a carrier, a jack carried thereby comprising a toe-rest for engaging the forepart of the shoe, and a pair of normally open grippers for engaging the sides of the shoe, mechanism vfor operating upon the shoe at an operating station, means for moving the carrier to bring the shoe to rest at said station, means responsive to movement of the jack toward the operating station for causing the Igrippers to close upon the shoe, and means responsive to movement of the jack away from the station for opening the grippers.

30. A machine for operating upon lasted shoes having, in combination, a jack comprising a toerest for engaging the forepart of a shoe, a last pin for entering the last-pin hole in the last, and a pair of normally open grippers for engaging the sides of the shoe, mechanism for operating upon the shoe at an operating station, means for moving the jack to bring the shoe to rest at said station, and means responsive to movement of the jack toward the operating station for causing the grippers to close on the shoe.

31. A machine for operating upon lasted shoes having, in combination, a jack comprising a toerest for engaging the forepart of a shoe, a last pin for entering the last-pin hole in the last, and a pair of normally open grippers for engaging the sides of the shoe, mechanism for operating upon the shoe at an operating station, means for moving the jack to bring the shoe to rest at said station, means responsive to movement of the jack toward the operating station for causing the grippers to close on the shoe, and means responsive to movement of the jack away from the operating station for opening the grippers.

32. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe having, in combination, a jack comprising a pair of grippers, yielding means for holding said grippers open, means connecting said grippers to cause them when actuated to move equally in opposite directions, means for causing the jack to travel, mechanism for operating upon the shoe, and means responsive to travel of the jack toward the operating mechanism for actuating the grippers to cause them to close yieldingly upon the shoe.

33. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe having, in combination, a jack comprising a pair of grippers, yielding means for holding said grippers open, means connecting said grippers to cause them When actuated to move equally in opposite directions, said connecting means including yieldable members, means for causing the jack to travel, mechanism for operating upon the shoe, and means responsive to travel of the jack toward the operating mechanism for actuating the grippers to cause them'to close yieldingly upon the shoe.

34. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe having, in combination, a carrier, a plurality of jacks carried thereby, mechanism for operating upon the shoe, means for moving the carrier to bring the jacks successively into operative relation to the operating mechanism, each jack comprising a pair of grippers, an actuating member, links connecting the -grippers respectively to the actuating member, and means located near the operating mechanism for engaging successively the actuating members and moving them to cause the grippers to close and hold the shoe in proper position While it is being operated upon.

35. A shoe sole attaching machine comprising a cushioning member for the sole of a shoe, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, means connecting the piston with the cushioning member, and means for supplying the interior of the cylinder and the interior of the cushion member with a pressure fluid.

36. A shoe sole attaching machine consisting of a cushioning member adapted to be applied to the sole of the shoe, a movable support for the cushioning member, a piston for the cushioning member, a cylinder for the piston, means for supplying a pressure fluid to the cylinder to move the piston and the movable support, and means for supplying a pressure fluid to the cushioning member.

LEO F. EXLEY. 

